Trunk-fastener



No. 750,739. PATENTED JAN. 26, 1904.

B. WEBER.

TRUNK PASTENER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 10 1903.

UNITED STATES,

Patented January 26, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN WEBER, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO CHARLES DITTMAR, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

TRUNK-FASTENER- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 750,739, dated January 26, 1904.

Application filed June 10, 1903- To (0 whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN WEBER, acitizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trunk-Fasteners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fastening devices for trunks.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved device of this character which shall be simple in construction, cheap to manufacture, and easily operated.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claim.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 illustrates a front view of the device; Fig. 2, a vertical section of same; Fig. 3, a perspective View of the keeper, and Fig. 4 a front elevation of a portion of a trunk provided with my improved fastener.

Referring to the drawings by letter, a designates the front vertical wall of the top or lid of a trunk or the like, and b the front wall of the main box or body of the same.

A housing or casing c is provided with 2. laterally-projecting flange c, by means of which the same is secured to the front wall a of the top of the trunk, and said housing comprises a central longitudinal raised portion cl, the lower end (Z of which latter projects downward below the side flanges and also below the lower edge a/ of said top front wall. The top of said housing is closed, and near the top said housing is provided with an elongated opening (Z into which the fingers of a persons hand may be inserted when raising the top or lid of the trunk. Projecting below the side flange c and at opposite sides of the central raised portion (Z are two lugs e, which project down in front of the wall 6 of the main box or body of the trunk. The front surface of said central housing is provided with a plurality of V-shaped slits j, which form tangs f, that are bent inwardly toward the wall a of the trunk, and a leaf-spring g has one end secured between said tangs, so that the lower Serial No. 160,810. (No model.)

free end of said spring will project downwardly toward the projecting end d of the housing. A tongue h is pivoted within the housing d and at its lower end is provided with an inturned hook it. Said tongue extends in a direction from top to bottom parallel with the walls of the housing and at its upper end is provided with a head 78 which has position in front of or registers with the said opening 6Z2. The free end of the spring g presses against the tongue it below its pivot 11 and serves to keep the hook end h pressed inward.

A keeper is secured to the front wall 6 of the main box or body of the trunk, and said keeper is provided with ahorizontally-extending cross-bar j, which has position along the top edge of the said wall 6. Adjoining each end of said cross-bar the keeper is also provided with pockets 7a, which project outwardly beyond said cross-bar j and form a shoulder at each end of said cross-bar which serves a purpose to be presently described. Below the cross-bar j the keeper is also provided with a horizontally-extending and outwardly-curved guard Z.

When the lid a of the trunk is lowered on top of the main box portion 6 of same, the projecting end d of the housing takes between the two shoulders formed by the pockets is, while the lugs 6 take in said pockets. The hook end it of the tongue engages the bottom edge of the cross-bar j and locks the lid of the trunk down on the main box portion of the trunk. The guard Z takes over the hook end it of the tongue and covers and protects same. It will thus be seen that the projecting end d of the tongue-housing by taking between the two pockets and the lugs e entering said pockets a strong resistance is provided against lateral movement of lid with respect to the main box portion of the trunk. It will also be seen that the projecting end of the housing and the top surface of the guard Z are flush and confront each other and serve to completely inclose the tongue.

In order to release the hook it from engagement with the keeper, the fingers of the hand are inserted in the opening (Z and against the head It of the tongue, which operation pushes the head end of said tongue inward and releases the hook end, and then the same fingers may lift against the top of the housing.

While the invention is herein described and shown as applied to a trunk, it is to be understood that the same is applicable to any kind of a case having a hinged lid and is not restricted to trunks.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In a trunk-lid lifter and fastener the combination with the lid of the trunk; a central Vertical housing having a laterally-projecting flange for attachment to said lid and also having an opening at each end; a tongue pivoted to said housing between said two end openings In testimony whereof I afiix my signature 3 in the presence of two witnesses. BENJAMiN WEBER.

Witnesses:

CHARLES B. MANN, J r., Gr. FERDINAND Voo'r. v 

